Church of All Nations
About Church Of All Nations
The Church of All Nations (also known as the Basilica of the Agony) stands at the foot of the Mount of Olives alongside the Garden of Gethsemane facing the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Completed in 1924, the present church was constructed on the remains of a 4th century Byzantine church and a 12th century Crusader chapel.
Mosaic on Façade of Church
The church has a roof of 12 copulas (domes) giving it a bubble-like appearance. The tympanum is adorned with a contemporary mosaic supported by Corinthian columns. In the mosaic, Christ is depicted as the mediator between God and man. On Christ’s left, a gathering of lowly people in tears look to Him in confidence. On His right, a group of the powerful and wise acknowledge the shortcomings of their might and learning.
Interior of Church
The interior is kept in semi-darkness to evoke the night-time of the agony. The inner side of the 12 cupolas is adorned with the coat of arms of the nations that contributed to the cost of construction. Mosaics illustrating Biblical scenes that took place in the Garden of Gethsemane cover the walls of the church. Beneath the high altar is a flat rock which tradition identifies as the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed the night before He was crucified.
Interesting Facts
- The church construction was funded by donations from 12 different nations earning it the name “Church of All Nations”.
- The rock is said to form a direct line with the Eastern Gate and where the entrance to the Holy of Holies in the Second Temple is believed to have once stood.
- The wrought-iron crown around the bedrock was a gift of Australia, depicting the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head by Romans.
